Mo Tae-Bum
Encyclopedia
Mo Tae-Bum is a South Korea
n speed skater
. He started speedskating while in the third grade. Prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mo won two distances at the 2006 World Junior Speed Skating Championships. He has competed on the national level since 2004 and has competed internationally since 2005.
He won two Junior World Championships in 2006, but did not win any other events until 2009. In 2009 he won gold in the 1000 m and 1500 m events at the Winter Universiade. The international community gave him little attention before the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, but he became the first Korean to win a gold medal in a long track speed skating event as well as earning the silver medal in the 1000 m race. This was a large upset, as he was ranked fourteenth in the world in the 500m race. Lee Myung-bak
congratulated Mo for his achievements in speed skating following these wins. Mo currently attends the Korea National Sport University, and lives with his parents in Pocheon province.
to father Mo Yeong-Yeol and mother Jeong Yeon-Hwa in 1989. He has one elder sister, Mo Eun-Yeong. Mo started skating when his father suggested it while he was in third grade at Eunseok Elementary School. His participation in the school skating team led him to win a cup from rival Lila Elementary School, which had dominated the age group at that time. Since then, Mo has been a close friend to Lee Seung-Hoon
, a fellow speed skater who also won a silver and a gold medal from the 2010 Winter Olympics. As Mo grew older, he almost gave up skating but, after three years of indecision, he decided against giving it up on the advice of his mother. Mo and his family currently live in the city of Pocheon
, Gyeonggi province.
As of 2010, Mo is a junior at Korea National Sport University.
In 2006, he attended the South Korean Sprint Championship, participating in the 500 m, 1000 m, and Samalog
events as well as in the 1000 m event at the South Korean Single Distance Championships, where he finished in fifth place with a time of 1:13.99. He participated in the last eligible race of his junior career at the 2006 World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Erfurt
, taking first place in both the 500 m, with a time of 35.83, and the 1500 m, with a time of 1:49.71.
, Mo had never won a non-junior race. His first adult competition was in the 2007 South Korean Single Distance Championships. He did not place in the top ten in an individual event at the 2008-09 Speed Skating World Cup, finishing in tenth place overall. At the 2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships
, he came in eighth place in the 1000 m event with a time of 1:10.11, and eleventh place with a time of 1:48.07 in the 1500 m event.
At the 2009 Winter Universiade
, he won the 1000 m and 1500 m events.
He has a rivalry with speed skater Shani Davis
, who has been faster in all four 1000 m races in the 2009–10 season. However, Mo has always been in second or third place in these races.
, 1000 m
, and 1500 m
events at the 2010 Winter Olympics
, and was an alternate for the men's team pursuit
. He won the gold medal in the 500 m event with a time of 00:34.92 for his first run and 00:34.90 for his second run. He won the event on his 21st birthday, and was the first Korean to win an Olympic gold medal in an event outside of short track speed skating. He beat fellow South Koreans Lee Kang-Seok
and Lee Kyu-Hyeok, who were ranked one and two in the world respectively, and celebrated by skating around the ice with a gaudy helmet. He also won a silver medal in the 1000 m event, missing the gold medal, won by Shani Davis
, by 18 hundredths of a second, but became the first South Korean to win two medals in an event other than short track speed skating. Mo finished fifth at the 1500 m event
, with a time of 1:46.47.
, ranked fourteenth in the world, and was surprised by his win. Park Pil-Soon, head of the Korean Olympic Committee
's international affairs department commented, "Mo was an unknown, and his gold medal win marks the start of a new generation in South Korean speed skating after Lee Kyu-Hyeok." In an interview after the event, he described himself as a risk-taker, and expressed interests in cars and motorcycles. President
Lee Myung-bak
sent a message congratulating Mo, calling him a "proud treasure who rewrote South Korea's speed skating history", and said that he brought jubilation to the South Korean people with his strong spirit and excellent skills.
Before the Olympics started the Korean Olympic Team held a press conference; however, he was asked few questions. He stated that, although it was disappointing, it helped him focus on the race. After the race, he personally reacted by stating that he "only imagined and dreamed about it" and saw it as a warm-up for his main event, the 1000 m.
He received a warm welcome when he returned to Korea, and his parents greeted him with a homemade banner.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
. He started speedskating while in the third grade. Prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mo won two distances at the 2006 World Junior Speed Skating Championships. He has competed on the national level since 2004 and has competed internationally since 2005.
He won two Junior World Championships in 2006, but did not win any other events until 2009. In 2009 he won gold in the 1000 m and 1500 m events at the Winter Universiade. The international community gave him little attention before the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, but he became the first Korean to win a gold medal in a long track speed skating event as well as earning the silver medal in the 1000 m race. This was a large upset, as he was ranked fourteenth in the world in the 500m race. Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak is the President of South Korea. Prior to his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the mayor of Seoul. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and one son. His older brother is Lee Sang-deuk, a South Korean politician. He attends the...
congratulated Mo for his achievements in speed skating following these wins. Mo currently attends the Korea National Sport University, and lives with his parents in Pocheon province.
Personal life
Mo Tae-Bum was born in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to father Mo Yeong-Yeol and mother Jeong Yeon-Hwa in 1989. He has one elder sister, Mo Eun-Yeong. Mo started skating when his father suggested it while he was in third grade at Eunseok Elementary School. His participation in the school skating team led him to win a cup from rival Lila Elementary School, which had dominated the age group at that time. Since then, Mo has been a close friend to Lee Seung-Hoon
Lee Seung-Hoon
Lee Seung-Hoon is a South Korean speed skater who won a silver medal in the 5000 meters and a gold medal in the 10000 metres at the 2010 Winter Olympics, becoming the first Asian man to ever achieve these feats...
, a fellow speed skater who also won a silver and a gold medal from the 2010 Winter Olympics. As Mo grew older, he almost gave up skating but, after three years of indecision, he decided against giving it up on the advice of his mother. Mo and his family currently live in the city of Pocheon
Pocheon
Pocheon is a landlocked city in the far northeastern region of Gyeonggi province in South Korea. It covers 826.48 km2 with a population of 160,176 people, according to the 2008 census. Pocheon lies between Seoul and the mountainous northwestern areas of Gangwon province...
, Gyeonggi province.
As of 2010, Mo is a junior at Korea National Sport University.
Junior career
Mo's first event was at the 2005 South Korean Single Distance Championships, which occurred on November 23 and 24, 2004. He finished tenth in the 1000 m race with a time of 1:16.81 and third in the 1500 m event with a time of 1:59.47. His next event was the 2005 World Junior Speed Skating Championships where he participated in the 500 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, and 5000 m events. However, he dod not finish in the top ten in any event except the 500 m, in which he took fifth place with a time of 38.21.In 2006, he attended the South Korean Sprint Championship, participating in the 500 m, 1000 m, and Samalog
Samalog
Samalog is a scoring system in speed skating. It is used in allround tournaments to convert results at various distances into points in order to determine an overall champion...
events as well as in the 1000 m event at the South Korean Single Distance Championships, where he finished in fifth place with a time of 1:13.99. He participated in the last eligible race of his junior career at the 2006 World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
, taking first place in both the 500 m, with a time of 35.83, and the 1500 m, with a time of 1:49.71.
Adult career
Prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, Mo had never won a non-junior race. His first adult competition was in the 2007 South Korean Single Distance Championships. He did not place in the top ten in an individual event at the 2008-09 Speed Skating World Cup, finishing in tenth place overall. At the 2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships
2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships
The 2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships were held between 12 March and 15 March 2009 in the Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond, BC, Canada.-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:*...
, he came in eighth place in the 1000 m event with a time of 1:10.11, and eleventh place with a time of 1:48.07 in the 1500 m event.
At the 2009 Winter Universiade
2009 Winter Universiade
The 2009 Winter Universiade, the XXIV Winter Universiade took place in Harbin, China. Student athletes from 44 countries took part in the games.-Selection:Harbin was selected by FISU on January 10, 2005 over future 2011 Winter Universiade host city Erzurum...
, he won the 1000 m and 1500 m events.
He has a rivalry with speed skater Shani Davis
Shani Davis
Shani Davis is an Olympic Champion speed skater from the United States.At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Davis became the first Black athlete to win a gold medal in an individual sport at the Olympic Winter Games . He also won the silver in the 1,500 m...
, who has been faster in all four 1000 m races in the 2009–10 season. However, Mo has always been in second or third place in these races.
2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
Mo qualified for the 500 mSpeed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres
The men's 500 metres speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval on 15th February 2010.-Track maintenance issues:...
, 1000 m
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres
The men's 1000 metres speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval on February 17, 2010.-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
, and 1500 m
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres
The men's 1500 metres speed skating competition of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was held at the Richmond Olympic Oval on February 20, 2010.-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
events at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, and was an alternate for the men's team pursuit
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's team pursuit
-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Finals:-External links:* , from http://www.vancouver2010.com/; retrieved 2010-02-26.* , from http://www.vancouver2010.com/; retrieved 2010-02-26.* , from http://www.vancouver2010.com/; retrieved 2010-02-26....
. He won the gold medal in the 500 m event with a time of 00:34.92 for his first run and 00:34.90 for his second run. He won the event on his 21st birthday, and was the first Korean to win an Olympic gold medal in an event outside of short track speed skating. He beat fellow South Koreans Lee Kang-Seok
Lee Kang-Seok
Lee Kang-Seok is a speed skater from South Korea. He is the 2007 and 2009 World Champion for 500m. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the 500 m...
and Lee Kyu-Hyeok, who were ranked one and two in the world respectively, and celebrated by skating around the ice with a gaudy helmet. He also won a silver medal in the 1000 m event, missing the gold medal, won by Shani Davis
Shani Davis
Shani Davis is an Olympic Champion speed skater from the United States.At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Davis became the first Black athlete to win a gold medal in an individual sport at the Olympic Winter Games . He also won the silver in the 1,500 m...
, by 18 hundredths of a second, but became the first South Korean to win two medals in an event other than short track speed skating. Mo finished fifth at the 1500 m event
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres
The men's 1500 metres speed skating competition of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was held at the Richmond Olympic Oval on February 20, 2010.-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
, with a time of 1:46.47.
Response to gold medal
Mo had been seen as a dark horseDark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
, ranked fourteenth in the world, and was surprised by his win. Park Pil-Soon, head of the Korean Olympic Committee
Korean Olympic Committee
The Korean Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in South Korea for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organization that selects players and teams to represent the nation, and raises funds to send them to Olympic events organized by the International Olympic Committee...
's international affairs department commented, "Mo was an unknown, and his gold medal win marks the start of a new generation in South Korean speed skating after Lee Kyu-Hyeok." In an interview after the event, he described himself as a risk-taker, and expressed interests in cars and motorcycles. President
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak is the President of South Korea. Prior to his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the mayor of Seoul. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and one son. His older brother is Lee Sang-deuk, a South Korean politician. He attends the...
sent a message congratulating Mo, calling him a "proud treasure who rewrote South Korea's speed skating history", and said that he brought jubilation to the South Korean people with his strong spirit and excellent skills.
Before the Olympics started the Korean Olympic Team held a press conference; however, he was asked few questions. He stated that, although it was disappointing, it helped him focus on the race. After the race, he personally reacted by stating that he "only imagined and dreamed about it" and saw it as a warm-up for his main event, the 1000 m.
He received a warm welcome when he returned to Korea, and his parents greeted him with a homemade banner.
Personal records
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| 500 m | 00:34.48 |
| 1000 m | 01:07.26 |
| 1500 m | 01:42.85 |
| 3000 m | 03:58.05 |
| 5000 m | 7:03.38 |